I succeeded in turning my drummer (who also happens to be my brother) into a giant Jon Fishman fan; but I was wondering what other musical/expressive drummers are out there. I recommended Jonathan Densmore and Buddy Rich to him. Any other recommendations? I'm trying to get him to listen to expressive drummers who utilize toms for dynamics as opposed to tapping and then bashing cymbals.

@kingsley_zissou said:

Neil Peart

this was what came to mind

bill bruford.........gotta get your rudiments down

original drummer for yes and king crimson

@kingsley_zissou said:

Neil Peart

He is in my opinion a very lame drummer with a limited bag of tricks. He uses the same licks over and over again, at least when he's playing with Rush. He is good at what he does though.

Terry Bozzio

Stanton Moore from Galactic (and a slew of other side projects) is a wonderfully talented and expressive drummer and reeks of New Orlean's authenticity. Bam!

And continuing the NOLA thing, Johnny Vidacovich is kind of an elder statesman in the New Orlean's scene. I saw him once with his band Astral Project at Berkfest 2000, great mushroom jazz kinda stuff. I know Stanton looks up to him in a big way, and that alone says volumes to me.

Lol how is someone gonna minus me and @bs915.

I was just thinking on the ride into work Bozzio was the best drum clinic I have ever seen in person! His playing is out of this world, not sure I could every play any of that stuff, but he is a one man army behind that set of drums.

On the other hand, I go through Neil Peart stages. Sometimes I say wow! Other times he just bores me. I think it’s because he is so regimented, and he has talked about this before, he tries to plays the same song the same way every time he plays it, and Rush's music is just too organized for me!

danny carey

Dave Weckl and Chester Thompson need to be on this list as well.

@item9guy said:

I was wondering about him. I never listened to Rush, though, so I couldn't say much about them. I was also thinking Ginger Baker is pretty good, too.

If you like the prog rock side of Phish then you will undoubtedly at least appreciate Rush. They are amazing.

Definitely agree with Billy Cobham..

Delve deep into Jazz for some drumming that will blow your mind..

Also, right now just for kicks blast the Led Zeppelin studio How Many More Times and listen to the unbelieveable shit that JB is doing on that track

I'll second the Ginger Baker nomination. Not a virtuoso drummer, but a very interesting and unique style.

I second Stewart Copeland (the Police), and Bill Bruford (Yes), and Billy Cobham and would add Mitch Mitchell (Hendrix), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden), and Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters)

How as no one mentioned Carl Palmer!

When the words musical and expressive come to mind, Keith Moon and Neil Peart are not anywhere near the top of that list. I enjoy both bands greatly but they are not musical or expressive.

If you want those, listen the these guys:

Steve Gadd
Vinny Coliuta
Stanton Moore
Tony Williams
Art Blakey
Jeff Porcaro
Carter Beauford

All of those guys I mentioned have or had an amazing feel and flow around a drum kit.

Gonna have to go with John Henry Bonham.

@Bulletproof said:

@gbass598 said:

When the words musical and expressive come to mind, Keith Moon and Neil Peart are not anywhere near the top of that list. I enjoy both bands greatly but they are not musical or expressive.

If you want those, listen the these guys:

Steve Gadd
Vinny Coliuta
Stanton Moore
Tony Williams
Art Blakey
Jeff Porcaro
Carter Beauford

All of those guys I mentioned have or had an amazing feel and flow around a drum kit.

I agree. Neil Pert and Keith Moon are both good drummers, but are too straight forward and very rigid. No expression coming from their playing. Just good, old fashioned rock and roll.

I disagree in regards to Keith Moon.

So says Wikipedia "Moon was known for dramatic, suspenseful drumming—often eschewing basic back beats for a fluid, busy technique focused on fast, cascading rolls across the toms, ambidextrous double bass drum work and wild cymbal crashes and washes"

Sure the brother could hit the cans hard like JB - but he also did shit no one does.

Agree. Think about The Who's rock operas...

The Who died with Keith Moon. Daultry and Townsend have admitted it. He was their soul. Stangely enough he didn't even keep their rhythm. He looked to Townsend for cues to keep pace. He was anything but your typical drummer

Technically, I think Neil Peart is the best. However, I believe Carter Beauford is the most melodic drummer I have ever heard. Stanton Moore is up there for nasty, dirty funkiness. John Bonham may have been the most innovative when it comes to studio work and capturing the real flavor of the drums on tape and is certainly on a very short list of best rock drummers ever. Jon Fishman I believe is the greatest chameleon among drummers, in that he is able to play just about any style very well and make it sound natural for him. Fish is definitely a student of drumming. There are several drummers out there in the different jazz genres that I could be banished for not mentioning, but while I enjoy those styles of music I have never been what one would consider an aficionado of them. From what I know well, those listed above are the most impressive.

@Ourayphan said:

Adam Deitch. Guy plays with everyone from Scofield to Pretty Lights

http://youtu.be/QJU9cRHydJQ

This guy is INCREDIBLE

The guy from Wilco live and whoever drummed on coltranes a love supreme

Joe Russo

Carter Beauford falls into the same category as Keith Moon and Neil Pert to me. Great drummer but boring and not at all melodic or dynamic.

@Commander_Riker said:

How as no one mentioned Carl Palmer!

Sign'd - Blew my mind live. Some of the fullest drumming I've ever seen (and I've seen Peart) and he only has a 5-piece in front of him.

Matt Abts ain't no slouch either.